No Matter What (Boyzone song)

"No Matter What" was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman for the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind, based on the book by Mary Hayley Bell, to be sung by a group of children at the end of Act 1.^[3] In the musical, the song is about the naive adoration by the children towards someone they believe to be Jesus (in reality, an escaped prisoner); however, for the version recorded by Boyzone, the lyrics have been modified significantly to become a teenage romantic love song, though a religious reference is retained (“If only prayers were answered/Then we would hear God say”).^[4]

Ronan Keating said that Stephen Gately was a fan of Lloyd Webber and wanted to be involved in West End theatre in some way. He approached Lloyd Webber for a song, and was given "No Matter What" to record. Gately first recorded a solo version before the other members of Boyzone became involved to record the song.^[5] Lloyd Webber, Steinman and Nigel Wright produced the song, with additional production by Franglen & Lupino.

According to Lloyd Webber, the manager of Boyzone Louis Walsh disliked the song and did not want to release the song as an A-side. Lloyd Webber chanced upon Richard Park from Capital Radio at an event; later that day Park asked Lloyd Webber if he had any new material, and Lloyd Webber played for him the song that the label and manager of Boyzone did not want released. Park said: "Listen to Capital Radio in five hours' time because I'm playing this because this is the biggest hit that they will ever have." Park played the song over the station and it became one of Boyzone’s biggest hits.^[5][6]

British newspaper Birmingham Evening Mail wrote, "Tina Arena has already had one hit from the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Jim Steinman stage musical 'Whistle Down The Wind' - but expect this one to do even better. As a change Stephen Gately shares lead vocals on what is essentially a simple but hugely memorable ballad. Prepare that number one spot now."^[7] A reviewer from Daily Record noted that it "shows a depth of maturity that bodes well for the future",^[8] later adding that the band "are continuing their efforts to evolve into a group which will be able to appeal to an older audience."^[9]

A music video was made to accompany the song. It was filmed at the Roundhouse in London and shows an African man leaving in a hot air balloon. The members of Boyzone are standing on the ground watching him depart, joined by a shirtless boy with a guitar and an apple, a girl in a white tank top and grey trousers, and an East Asian woman. The African man eventually drops a small golden crucifix, in reference to the Christian themes of Whistle Down the Wind.^[10] An alternate version was later produced as a tie-in for Notting Hill, using alternate footage of Boyzone from the same shoot as the original video and clips from the film.^[11]

Credits are lifted from the By Request album booklet.^[18]

Studios

• Recorded at Skratch Studios, Metropolis Studios, Sarm West Studios (London, England), FLM Studios (Hollywood, California), and Barking Dog Studios (New York City)

Personnel